Northern Knights coach Anthony Rocca takes us through every Coates League Boys player

The Northern Knights have several AFL Draft hopes this season but are also looking to the future with a host of exciting young prospects. Anthony Rocca talks us through every player.

Northern Knights 2025 list analysis.

Northern Knights is looking to the future this season.

The Coates Talent League club has a couple of exciting prospects for 2025, led by Jade Gresham – brother of Essendon’s Jade.

However, there are a number of exciting bottom-age talents to watch for 2026.

Knights coach Anthony Rocca takes us through the list.

Northern Knights coach Anthony Rocca. Picture: Ian Currie

BAYLIE DAY (Whittlesea)

Didn’t play a lot last year but has impressed with his voice and communication. Looking forward to him being prominent throughout the season.

BEN WILSON (Hawthorn Citizens)

Another young fella with an impressive pre-season and will get a chance at some stage throughout the year.

CHAS WOODWARD (Montmorency)

Chaz is the same, will look to push his case as the season goes on.

DEAN TALARICO (Watsonia)

He’s been good. An inside mid. A bottom-aged player who’s contested work is really good. Has come on really quickly to be a Round 1 chance.

DUNCAN McKIE (Fitzroy)

In his second year, we’ve shifted his role out to the wing instead of half-back. Has done some good things.

GABRIEL STUMPF (Warrandyte)

Back as a 19-year-old so not sure how long we’ll have him for but I look forward to him being a prominent feature in our forward line.

James Allison tackles for Northern Knights. Picture: Mark Wilson

HARRY VAN HATTUM (St Mary’s)

A Bottom-ager, 204cm, great ruck craft and can play forward. We’re looking for big things from him maybe this year but certainly next year. In the Vic Metro state training hub.

HARVIE COOKE (Eltham)

A strong inside midfielder, bottom-ager, loves the contested footy. Will play a fair bit of footy for us this year I think.

HUDSON LAWRENCE (St Mary’s)

Another bottom-ager, we’ve got a fair few to be excited about next year. Coming off the half-back and plays the way we want to play in a defensive manner.

HUGH WHITE (Beverley Hills)

A 19-year-old back this year. His inside contest is good and we’ll be looking for him to get some quality ball on the outside.

ISAAC MULLINS (Montmorency)

We’re not sure if he’ll play this year due to injury.

ISAAC DUGDALE (St Mary’s)

Played one game last year. Has gotten fitter and stronger and a good user off half-back.

Josh Shepherd gets a kick for Northern Knights. Picture: Mark Wilson

JACK STONE (Beverley Hills)

Has been injured but we expect to see him back mid-way through the year.

JACK TRANQUILI (Eltham)

He’s been good. Plays half-forward, a quality ball-user, hard in-and-under and we’re looking forward to him having a big year.

JAI BARTZIS (Watsonia)

Learning the ropes of playing a hybrid forward role, which could take some time, but we’ll see him play at some stage this year.

JAMES ALLISON (Montmorency)

Jimmy is an inside contested mid. Has had an uninterrupted pre-season. He’s our Mr Fix-it, can play mid, forward or back. It will be a good year for him we hope.

JAMIE ALDER (Diamond Creek)

From our Futures program. A good goalsneak, left-footer who knows where the goals are and his pressure is really good.

JAMISON LEESON (Watsonia)

Bottom-age high half-back who uses the ball really well. Not afraid of the contest I can tell you that, so we expect to see him play during the season.

Jesse Dattoli was drafted last year by Sydney.

Tom Sims was drafted by Richmond last year. Picture: Mark Stewart

JOSH BAWDEN (Epping)

Josh is an interesting one. He’s a good player but we’ve just got some good rucks in front of him. Has a great set of hands.

KAI PARKER (St Mary’s)

Had an interrupted pre-season but is back now and we expect to see him early. Is 6’2 but can play on either smalls or talls and is a great intercept mark.

LACHLAN GALLETLY (Montmorency)

A high half-back who uses the ball well. Learning the ropes of when to defend and when to be offensive.

LEWIS HOUNDSOME (Yarrambat)

A 200cm bottom-ager, who can play ruck or forward. A great prospect for this year and next. In the same mould of Harry.

LIAM FARRAR (Diamond Creek)

A top-ager who is on Carlton’s VFL list. Has changed his role from high half-forward to a winger, has great running capacity and can use the ball well.

LOGAN SHEPHERD (Eltham)

High half-forward and will play mid at some stage as well. Loves the contest.

Tyson Gresham was a Vic Metro representative at Under-16 level.

LUCAS YACOUB (South Morang)

A winger who can use the ball well, just needs to chose the right option.

MATT KAYROOZ (St Mary’s)

Hybrid forward. Medium size but can mark and runs really well and can be that link between our backs and forwards.

MAX DOWNES (St Mary’s)

Has had an interrupted pre-season and will probably play mid-season. A high half-forward or mid.

MICHAEL BELLISSIMO (Banyule)

A development player. We’ll see how he goes but he’s a prospect for next season.

MITCH MOATE (Epping)

Coming back from an ACL. Hopefully he gets the tick in the next week or so and then we’ll address his game time. He’s one to keep an eye out for because his contest stuff has been fantastic. Hard as nails.

NED NIHILL (Yarrambat)

Part of our program last year, high half-forward. Loves the contest and can sometimes goes way too hard and hurts himself more than others. His impact around the contest is really high.

Seb Murphy celebrates a goal for Parade College. Picture: Andy Brownbill

NICK DRISCOLL (Eltham)

A winger, mid, half-back. Very quick and uses the ball well. Great on our offensive patterns.

NICK CANAVAN (Montmorency)

Will share his time between us and Marcellin. Marking forward who runs really well. Can play second ruck and very good aerially.

ROMAN MOXON (Fitzroy)

Another one from Marcellin. Half-back, great agility, great ball use off half-back. Looking forward to him using his defensive-first mentality and then being an offensive force.

RYAN COMMANDEUR (Greensborough)

Half-back. A very good runner, can run a 2km in six minutes. Has leadership qualities and can play on the wing as well.

RYLEE RATKOVIC (St Mary’s)

Has an interrupted past few weeks. A very good inside contested player who can also kick goals. A great prospect for next year.

SAM GAYFER (St Mary’s)

We thought we weren’t going to see him for most of the year with injury but his progress has been better than first thought. An athletic forward who loves aerial contests and crashing packs. We’re really bullish about him.

SAM VASS (Macleod)

Has torn a ligament in his ankle. Will probably see him after mid-season.

SEAN TYRELL (Montmorency)

Our ruck. Played a little bit last year but has gotten bigger and fitter. A great distributor with his ruck craft.

SEB MURPHY (Montmorency)

One of our co-captain. His decision making is really good and can change a change in five or 10 minutes with three goals on the board or three score assists.

TATE HODGSON (Park Orchards)

Is going to miss predominantly the whole year with a back issue. Played 10 games for us last year as a Futures player but next year is his most important year.

TOBY KRASNA (Preston Bullants)

Has speed and endurance, which is a little freakish this year. We’re looking for him to be cleaner with his ball use, will be used wing and across half-back. Good luck catching him.

TOM EAMES (St Mary’s)

Tall back who will look to cement his position this year.

Zak Johnson joins old Northern Knights teammate Nate Caddy at the Bombers.

Nate Caddy in action for Northern Knights before getting drafted.

TOMMY VRKIC (Montmorency)

A 19-year-old who will play back for us. Not sure how long we’ll have him but looking forward to him playing on the best opposition talls week-to-week and his leadership has been really good.

TYLER HAMILTON (St Mary’s)

Has been fantastic as a bottom-ager. If we don’t see him playing early, he’ll definitely play later in the year. A left-footer who uses the ball well and is proactive on his opponent when playing defence.

TYSON GRESHAM (South Morang)

Our other co-captain. Has been fantastic throughout pre-season. His speed and ball use has been fantastic and his leadership around all the boys. He’s really well liked by all the boys. In the Vic Metro state training hub.

XAVIER ROWLEY (St Mary’s)

A young kid who’s in our program for a development year. Speed and pressure are really good.

ZACHARY BROADBENT (Montmorency)

Broady has had a great pre-season. Played two games last year. Has been super across half-back, uses the ball well and I’m looking forward to his leadership and ability to shutdown opposition forwards.